Adaptive significance of facultative paedomorphosis in Triturus alpestris (Amphibia, Caudata):: resource partitioning in an alpine lake

被引:59
作者
Denoël, M
Joly, P
机构
[1] Univ Liege, Dept Ethol & Anim Psychol, Lab Fish & Amphibian Ethol, B-4020 Liege, Belgium
[2] Univ Lyon 1, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France
关键词
facultative paedomorphosis; feeding; polymorphism; resource partitioning; space use;
D O I
10.1046/j.1365-2427.2001.00762.x
中图分类号
Q14 [生态学(生物生态学)];
学科分类号
071012 ; 0713 ;
摘要
1. Facultative paedomorphosis is a polymorphism that has important evolutionary implications in promoting morphological differentiation and variation in habitat use. It occurs in several urodele species throughout the world. Several hypotheses based on life-history theory have been proposed to explain the wide range of habitats in which facultative paedomorphosis occurs, suggesting multifactorial causes. 2. In harsh habitats, such as mountain lakes, paedomorphosis might promote niche partitioning between morphs. This hypothesis was tested by comparing micro-habitat use and diet of two coexisting morphs in an alpine lake. 3. Paedomorphs occupied all microhabitats in the lake while metamorphs occurred only along the shoreline or at the water surface. Paedomorphic newts were frequent in deep water, where they foraged mainly on plankton. Plankton was poorly exploited by metamorphic newts, which fed mainly on terrestrial insects. Difference between morphs in microhabitat use, and consequently in the diet, were consistent in both sexes and in juveniles. 4. In adults, the mass and energy value of stomach contents did not differ between morphs, suggesting a similar food availability in the habitats occupied. 5. This study indicates habitat partitioning between morphs involving dietary differences. Specific benefits and costs of each ontogenetic pathway may allow their coexistence in this deep and fishless lake. Paedomorphosis benefits individual newts by making new food resources available and presumably reducing competition at the shore of the lake. However, the proximate causes of such an ontogenetic switch remain unclear.
引用
收藏
页码:1387 / 1396
页数:10
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